by Dennis Dalman
news@thenewsleaders.com
Many Sartell residents have been confused, baffled and frustrated when trying to obtain a permit to use the Sartell compost site, but they should be just a bit more patient because help is on its way.
The website on which to apply for a compost permit is being revamped by its creator to make it user-friendly. It should be up and ready to go in about two weeks. When it is, the Sartell Newsleader will give complete step-by-step instructions on how to use the site with instructions from Sartell City Administrator Anna Gruber.
During this pandemic, the only way to pay for and receive a compost-site permit is to complete the application process via a website called “MyGov,” which is a link on the City of Sartell webpage.
At the April 12 city-council meeting, Mayor Ryan Fitzthum said he has received all kinds of questions and complaints about the process, which involves paying the annual permit fee to the city and then receiving a receipt of payment that allows a vehicle to enter the compost site.
City administrator Gruber said she agrees the current process is confusing for applicants and cumbersome for city staff.
Since that April 12 council meeting, Gruber contacted the creator of the city-contracted MyGov website, as she has several times previously in an ongoing effort to convince MyGov to improve its site. That company in mid-April finally agreed to make user-friendly changes and just recently told Gruber they will go even further and do a major revamping/streamlining process.
The Sartell compost site opened April 17 and will close Sept. 24. More information about its business hours and open dates will be published along with the upcoming story of the MyGov website’s improvements.
